Hey, friend! Okay, so you know how colds just have this way of derailing everything? Like one minute you’re handling life, and the next you’re curled up with a pile of tissues, trying to remember what breathing through your nose feels like? I was curious how our favorite vintage homemakers, those 1950s housewives, handled sniffles back in the day. Turns out, they had some surprisingly simple (and kind of genius) strategies for handling colds at home, and I’ve even tried adding a modern twist to some of them.
Let’s chat about how they kept their households running while fighting off the sniffles. Because, spoiler alert, not even a 1950s housewife was immune to feeling like garbage on sick days. (Ahem, me right now. I’m writing this as my baby and I have colds and are miserable!)
Warming Up with Hot Lemonade
Keeping warm was pretty much rule number one for shaking off a chill back then. I mean, it makes sense, right? The moment you’re shivering, your body’s just like, “Nope.” The standout remedy? Hot lemonade.
Here’s a recipe I stumbled across that feels so 1900s and oddly resourceful. You boil barley, strain the water into a pitcher, and add fresh lemon juice and honey. (Keep the barley for soup or whatever meal you’re cooking next.) The result? A comforting, warm drink that’s soothing and not overly sweet. Honestly, it’s kind of genius because you’re doubling up to make both a drink and part of dinner at the same time. We have efficiency queens in the 1900s to thank for that hack. I just wish I could give you measurements, but unfortunately every old book I found this in didn’t include measurements.
It’s no less cozy today, and if you’re not up for the barley step, a little warm water with honey and lemon totally does the trick too.
Eating Lightly and Keeping It Simple
Another thing housewives back then swore by? Eating lightly until you were feeling better. Soups, simple salads, and bread were their go-to comfort foods. And honestly? That just checks out. There’s nothing like a hot bowl of soup and some bread when you’ve got the sniffles.
Here’s my small mom-hack version for this one. Whenever I make soup in the fall or winter, I save a batch in the freezer in little cubes (like those silicone trays people use for baby food). That way, if someone in the house comes down with a cold, I can just grab a cube, heat it up, and voilà! Homemade soup, minus the effort of starting from scratch. It’s like having a sick-day safety net in your freezer.
For me, barley soup is the thing when I’m sick. It’s hearty, easy on the stomach, and feels like a warm hug in a bowl. Add a little bread on the side and, yep, instant comfort. Soups with grains in them freeze great, unlike soups with potatoes.
Rest Is Best (Even for Moms, Somehow)
Now, you already know the old rule of thumb here, and they swore by it back in the day too. Get plenty of rest. That’s it. Just rest. Sounds amazing, right? But if you’re a mom, you’re probably laughing because, um, when?
For 1950s housewives, this meant actually staying in bed and spending the day being, as they put it, “a little lazy.” They’d read a book, flip through a magazine, or listen to the radio to pass the time. Sounds dreamy, huh?
For us modern-day homemakers, resting takes a little, uh, creativity. If you’re home with kids, don’t be afraid to take 5–8 minute naps. I heard somewhere that military members swear by quick floor naps, and trust me, they work. Just set baby up in a playpen or plop the kids down with a quick 10-minute show, and snooze while they’re entertained. It’s not perfect, but you’ll wake up feeling less like a zombie.
Rest is key—even if it’s in micro doses.
Hygiene Hacks from the Past
Here’s where 1950s housewives got surprisingly proactive with germs. They were team “disposable tissue” all the way, ditching handkerchiefs in favor of something a little more sanitary. And they were all about not spreading the illness to the whole house.
Their advice? Keep your toothbrush far from everyone else’s to avoid cross-contamination (yep, someone probably spaced them out on the bathroom counter like they were in assigned seating). And stay away from the rest of the family as much as possible until you’re better.
Even now, tissues over handkerchiefs is a no-brainer, and spacing out toothbrushes? Honestly, solid advice.
When to Call the Doctor
Back in the 1950s, colds didn’t always stay colds. Their approach was simple but cautious. If your symptoms stuck around for a few days, it was time to call the doctor. Serious illnesses like diphtheria, whooping cough, and measles could disguise themselves as little sniffles in the beginning, so they kept a close eye on any lingering symptoms.
How to Be Sick…and Still Have a Clean House
Okay, now here’s where I throw in my little secret weapon for sick days. You know I’m a sucker for anything vintage, which is why I have to bring up my Domestic Daydreams Radio Cleaning Routines.
These routines are perfect for vintage lovers because they combine old-timey 1950s radio shows (Dragnet, Suspense!, Wild Bill Hickok!) with step-by-step audio cleaning routines. If you’re the one who’s sick, you can easily delegate the cleaning. All you have to do is hand the headphones to your partner or a willing helper and say, “Just press play and follow the instructions.” Done and done.
And if you’re not completely out of commission but still feeling blah, these routines can actually make cleaning feel like a cozy, relaxing distraction. They guide you through tasks at your own pace while whisking you away with vintage vibes. It’s basically comfort cleaning.
Seriously, whether you need to delegate or find a way to make cleaning enjoyable even when you’re under the weather, these routines have your back. You can get some free episodes here and add a little vintage magic to your home!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, 1950s housewives had some pretty good ideas about getting through colds. From keeping warm with lemon barley drinks to making rest and light meals a priority, there’s a lot we can borrow from them. Add in a few modern shortcuts (like soup cubes and quick naps), and you’ve got yourself a cozy, efficient little sick-day survival kit.
What about you? Would you try any of these remedies? Or are you firmly team modern medicine and streaming TV? Either way, take care of yourself, get cozy, and remember… it’s okay to be “a little lazy” sometimes.
Stay well, friend! And if you’re feeling under the weather, grab some tissues, make some soup, and maybe even cue up a Domestic Daydreams routine for the hubby ;P to help keep things running until you’re back to 100%. You’ve got this! ✨
P.S. I love this TikTok video from Hannah on 1950s cold remedies! A lot of them match up with the ones I shared!